Being involved in a car accident can be a frightening, stressful ordeal. You may have been injured, and you may want to seek compensation from the negligent party. Car accidents happen all the time. They can have a serious impact on your mental health, and seeking justice is not unusual. At the moment, you may be wondering what to do after a car accident in Orange County. An experienced car accident lawyer can help you figure out exactly what you should do.
What You Should Do After a Car Accident
There are certain steps you should always take in the immediate aftermath of a car accident, regardless of whether it is a minor fender bender or a devastating tragedy. If you are coherent and not severely injured, here are a number of steps you can take to document your accident, which can help you later when you file an insurance claim:
- Stay Calm: The minutes following a car accident can be some of the most stressful of your life. It is important to keep yourself together, stay calm, and assess the situation as well as you can. Panic can influence your judgment for the worse and cause undue delays. These could result in further damage or even a second accident.
- Call 911: As soon as you are able, contact the authorities and inform them of the situation. Get the police and an ambulance to you promptly. You will need a valid police report when it comes time to seek an insurance claim.
- Check the Passengers: If there are other passengers in the car with you, make sure they are okay. If they are not, do what you can to take care of them before the authorities arrive. Once they do, let the authorities take over and get them to safety.
- Move the Car: If you are able, move your vehicle out of the way of oncoming traffic and park it on the side of the road. If your vehicle is too damaged to move, just leave it there to be dealt with later. Get yourself and any potential passengers out of the immediate accident zone.
- Document the Scene: Once you have been cleared of any severe injuries by the EMTs on site, you can begin documenting the scene of the accident. Take photos of any vehicles involved in the accident, the license plate numbers, any property damage, and any injuries that you or your passengers have sustained. Talk to any potential witnesses and get their contact information. You may need to speak to them later.
- See a Doctor: Even if you have been medically cleared by the EMTs, you should still go see a doctor for a thorough evaluation. Not only will the resulting medical records be important for your future insurance claim, but they may also reveal an injury that the EMTs initially missed. It is always ideal to be careful and certain after a car accident.
- Inform Your Insurance: You need to notify your insurance company that you have been involved in a car accident. If you delay this step, it could cause problems for you in the near future. In addition, Orange County has specific laws regarding car accidents. If you are involved in one, make sure you:
- Stop at the scene of the accident.
- Exchange insurance information with all parties involved.
- Report the accident to the police and DMV if there is significant property damage or injury.
- Talk to a Lawyer: You will want an experienced lawyer to help you go up against the insurance companies, all of whom want to make sure that they have to pay you as little as possible. Your lawyer can walk you through the process of filing an insurance claim and help you make sure that your rights are not taken advantage of.
What You Should Not Do After an Accident
Car collisions in Balboa Peninsula, Woodbridge, Old Towne Orange, and elsewhere in Orange County can lead to chaotic situations where the actions you take or do not take matter. These incidents are also more common than you may think, especially considering that 17,809 people were killed or injured along the county’s roads in 2023 alone.
After a car collision, avoid making mistakes that could limit your ability to pursue compensation through an injury claim. Do not admit fault at the scene of the collision. Fault should be determined based on the evidence, not offhand comments made in a stressful situation.
You should also decline to give recorded statements to the other driver’s insurance company. Adjusters often request these early on, but they may also use your words to minimize or even challenge your claim. Insurance companies are in the business of making profits, and their goals do not align with yours.
It is generally better to avoid making statements until you have an attorney to manage your case. They can handle direct communications with your insurance company or the at-fault party’s carrier. These steps are important because you may not fully understand the extent of your injuries in the moments or even days after a personal injury.
Staying off social media is also important because anything you post about your activities, physical condition, or the accident can be taken out of context and used against you. Insurance companies and defense attorneys routinely review platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok when evaluating claims.
See What Our Clients Say
Easton & Easton values the experiences our clients have shared.
“Easton & Easton is great! Super-professional, easy to work with and is in an ideal location. Everyone I know that has used the firm for a personal injury case, has been happy with their results. Yesenia is always very responsive and helpful. You can tell she has many years of experience in the personal injury field.” Nicole S.
“Easton & Easton is great! Super-professional, easy to work with and is in an ideal location. Everyone I know that has used the firm for a personal injury case, has been happy with their results. Yesenia is always very responsive and helpful. You can tell she has many years of experience in the personal injury field.” Danielle M.
***Client testimonials reflect individual experiences and do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Why You Should Hire a Car Accident Lawyer From Easton & Easton
There are 869,000 cervical spine injuries tied to car collisions every year, and those are just one of many potential forms of bodily harm someone can contend with after a car collision along the Pacific Coast Highway, Jamboree Road, Harbor Boulevard, and elsewhere in Orange County. When you hire an injury lawyer, you greatly improve your chances of securing a favorable outcome to your car accident case.
An Orange County car accident attorney from Easton & Easton can represent you from the start to the finish of your case. An injury lawyer’s understanding of car accident laws can prove pivotal for making sure that you receive the fair compensation that you are owed. California’s courts saw 886,644 civil claims in 2024 alone, and legal representation played a critical role in helping plaintiffs secure compensation from successful cases.
Easton & Easton has helped clients reclaim more than $2 billion in compensation since our founding. Our lawyers bring more than a collective 100 years of combined experience to these matters. We have been successful at securing large settlements due to our focus on building strong claims and always advocating for the interests of the people we represent.
*Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its own merits.
High earners in particular can suffer serious financial hardships, both due to medical bills and missed time from work and lost opportunities while they recover. We can take the time to carefully calculate the full value of those losses so you do not suffer setbacks due to someone else’s negligence or wrongful acts while on the road.
FAQs
What Do I Do After a Minor Car Accident in California?
If you are involved in a minor car accident in California, you should make sure the other driver has your insurance information, but you may not have to notify the authorities. Under California state law, police only need to be notified of a car accident if said accident fulfills three specific criteria:
- Someone was severely injured.
- Someone was killed.
- Property damage exceeds $1,000.
Even if you don’t file a police report, you can still file an insurance claim for the accident.
Should I File a Police Report for a Minor Car Accident in California?
If you have been involved in a car accident of any kind in California, it is generally a good idea to file a police report. It is greatly beneficial to have one on hand when you seek an insurance claim. Getting the police involved keeps everything straight, protects you legally, and clarifies who was at fault for the accident. If the damage is minor and nobody was injured, you legally don’t have to file a police report for the accident.
How Long Do You Have to Report an Accident to Your Insurance Company in California?
The amount of time you have to report an accident to your insurance company in California really depends on the insurance provider that you belong to. Some companies want their drivers to report an accident within days. Others have no strict timeline for reporting an accident. Every insurance carrier has different rules. It is generally a good idea to report the accident as soon as possible so all relevant parties can be in agreement moving forward.
How Long Does an Accident Stay on Your Record in California?
Under California state law, an accident typically stays on your driving record for three years, beginning on the date of the actual accident. During this time, the accident will be considered part of the public record and can be seen by insurance companies, prospective employers, and law enforcement entities. If the accident is particularly serious, it could stay on your record for as long as 10 years. It depends on the severity of the accident.
Reach Out to a Car Accident Lawyer Today
At Easton & Easton, we are determined to do what we can to help you deal with the fallout of your car accident. We can help you build your case, gather the necessary evidence, and represent your interests in court if it comes to that. Contact us to schedule a consultation on how to manage the situation.
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